If Not Now, When?

"Oregon is an inspiration. Whether you come to it, or are born to it, you become entranced by the state's beauty, the opportunity she affords, and the independent spirit of her citizens."

Address to the 1973 State Legislator

The Road Warrior of Interstate 5

We made some grandiose plans for our trip to Oregon, catching up with some dear friends, taking a few "meditation" breaks along a few of those famous blue ribbon trout streams and by chance finding that perfect blue water Shangri-La.. Well holy shit...Oregon was in flames with no relief in the forecast. We felt for all the Oregonians as this abnormal diet of intense smoke was so unhealthy. Don't know how much of the state we will be able to explore, but connecting with our friends will not be detoured.

We began our time in Oregon with a stopover at Armitage Park in Eugene. Nestled on the shores of the McKenzie River, the park featured a very nice walking trail and a huge dog park for Sydney and Kiah to kick up their heels. The park was beautiful. We had a beautiful campsite to relax and do some grilling, but the air quality was bad at best. This park is centered in "Duck" country, so with some of their fan base residing here for the weekend, tailgate parties and Oregon Green was prevalent in almost every site. Good outcome as the Ducks creamed their opponent this game...everyone was festive and in a happy mood.

We next made a brief visit to our beloved friends Pat and Michael in McMinnville, Oregon. We spent a night of "moochdocking" in front of Pat's beautiful "green" home. And leave it to Pat to know which local eateries will offer the most scrumptious samplers to test my astute taste buds. Pura Vida Cocina and Babica Hen Cafe were perfect choices. Hard to grasp that it has been almost 10 years since we called this small town home during our exploratory trial of living full time in a motorhome...many of you may remember our beautiful Country Coach diesel pusher "Hannah". But time is but a river of passing events and for us the current is always strong...no sooner is a memorable moment is caught, than it is swept away and another has taken its place. Change nothing and nothing changes, so we listen to our inner voice and know when it is time to start something new, trusting the magic of new beginnings.

Curiosity forced us to check out a "dispensary" while in the state. As it is legal and no marijuana medical card is required, stores are everywhere. We stopped into a Chalice Farms store and were more than impressed with the quality of the store and the knowledgeable, forthcoming staff. Very first class with so many choices of medical grade cannabis. 

A decade ago we were part of the camphosting team here at Champoeg State Heritage Park And then one year later we were invited back for a return hosting gig. So seeing the entrance sign to this wonderful Oregon State Park was a welcoming sight as it brought back so many fond memories. Situated on the south bank of the scenic Willamette River, Champoeg is the site where Oregon's first provisional government was formed by a historical vote in 1843. 

This latest visit has brought us back to see dear friends, John and Christina, who are currently hosting here in "B" Loop. Champoeg is extremely fortunate to have recruited this superstar pair to their hosting team, as they are wonderful stewards to our natural wonderlands. 

Imkelina, Sydney and Kiah explored every part of the park during our brief stay. Champoeg is very pet friendly, featuring two dog training fields for pet owners to unleash their active and athletic companions. We did stroll down memory lane by walking down the River Trail to the historic Butteville Store. This lush and paved trail above the Willamette river is favored by campers and locals alike, as it offers miles and miles of scenic views.

We were told in advance that all sites at Champoeg are booked throughout the month of September. And it was the truth, for by late afternoon each day, all sites were occupied. But even with all this activity, the park did not compete with the craziness offered by our local Hearst San Simeon Campground during the summer. Call these Oregonian campers tame and docile...but we see their respect to fellow campers quite refreshing. We bid farewell once again to Champoeg and head west, hopefully to the smoke free Clatsop State Forest.

At Waypoint 45.2483ºN, -122.8942ºW

Champoeg State Park

"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Seeing the entrance sign for Champoeg State Park was a welcoming sight for we had so many memories of this park from our days of hosting here. In 2007 we camphosted twice at Champoeg. Here are our blog links to them both. First hosting stint and second hosting stint were during a different season, with extreme weather challenges. This visit, though not as colorful, had pretty tame temps that did not warrant flannel sheets and a heater going on and off throughout the night.

We had a site reserved in B Loop, not far from our old hosting space. As we hosted during the fall, with the beautiful colors, green lawns and unbelievable rainfall, the park looked different during these summer months, but no less beautiful.

During this stay, there wasn’t a day that Imkelina and Sydney did not walk almost ten miles (occasionally with me in tow)…almost as if she was catching up on what she missed during the cold months we were here before. She definitely gorged on trails this trip.

We strolled down memory lane by walking up and down the River Trail. This beautiful paved trail above the Willamette River is favored by campers and locals alike, as it offers miles and miles of scenic views with several alternate side trails to interesting points.

Although we were told that during the summer months the campground was full, we were still surprised to see it so each day. A new wave of tent, cabin, yurt or RV campers would fill any vacated site. Frisbee golfers filled the course each day and many people visited the Visitor’s Center with it’s interpretive displays. But even with all this activity that went on from daytime to late evening, it did not compete with the craziness that comes to Hearst San Simeon Campground during the summer. Call these Oregonian campers tame and docile…but we see it as respectful…to fellow campers and to the park…quite refreshing.

On the day of our arrival, we were able to connect with our friends Patrick and Cheryl…and Splash. As they live nearby, it was not a long drive for them to stop by for pupus. We met them when we hosted together at Champoeg in 2007 and have stayed in touch ever since.

The next day, we spent an evening with our dear friend Pat and her partner Michael. We had also met Pat in 2007 when we were staying in McMinnville, Oregon. We immediately connected and have become close friends, so it is just natural for us to plan our itinerary to include an opportunity for a visit. Pat has generously offered us the use of her RV lot in Port Ludlow, Washington for a few days as we explore the Olympic Peninsula.

On our last day, we drove to Newberg for some grocery shopping and were shocked to see this restaurant…A Taste of 808. The 808 is the area code of Imkelina’s beloved Hawaii. We had to stop for a mango/passion fruit shaved Ice. I would have gotten a couple dozen of Malasadas to pig out on…but fortunately for my body, they only made them on certain days of the week and we were departing the next morning. 

After three days, we left this wonderful State Park and headed north. Our plans were to spend one night in Cougar, Washington and then head up to a Forest Service Campground in the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest.

A wonderful multi-use piece of furniture for your rig or home is this Folding Storage Ottoman. We use it for games, Sydney's goodies and anything else that will fit. When we travel, we just slide it underneath our dining table or it can be emptied and folded to fit anywhere. And best of all, Imkelina uses it as an ottoman when Sydney gives her room to be a couch potato.

As a footnote to our many readers and subscribers; you probably have noticed we advertise the Amazon link on our blog and provide the link to that site for all the cool RV Accessories we feature on our posts. The reason is that we are enrolled in the Amazon Affiliate Program and earn a minimum of 4% advertising/commission fees on your qualifying purchases. We know it isn’t high, but it can add up, especially when our readers are buying multiple items. We have all come to know that Amazon is a trusted brand and their site is one of the safest to make purchases from. Plus they also offer an unlimited variety of items to choose from, providing one stop shopping at a competitive price point or in many instances the lowest. So if your are going to shop via Amazon.com, please consider connecting to their website through our blog.

One last note, we have had a couple of inquiries of what to do if you have an Amazon account or concerns that going through our link may be too confusing or difficult.  Here is how difficult and mind boggling it is…NOT. Once you access BlaNicS Waypoints, click on the Amazon Link/Icon. If you have a regular Amazon Account or Prime Account, just sign in as you always do. Now search, shop and buy. WE HAVE NO WAY OF ACCESSING YOUR ACCOUNT OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION. You are able to browse any department, make any type of purchase and provide us an opportunity to earn a commission. Pretty simple, very painless and the only confusion is “what should I buy?” So a sincere thank you in advance for choosing to make your Amazon purchases through our site.

At Waypoint 45.248159-122.894285